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NMSU OUTober celebration includes guest speakers, drag show

The New Mexico State University LGBT+ Programs will host two nationally known speakers and a drag show as part of OUTober 2017 – Celebrating Diversity Coming Out Month.

Transgender YouTube personality Ty Turner will speak at New Mexico State University Oct. 11 as part of OUTober 2017 – Celebrating Diversity Coming Out Month. (Image courtesy New Mexico State University LGBT+ Programs)
Gayle Salamon, an associate professor of English and gender and sexuality studies at Princeton University, will speak at New Mexico State University Oct. 27 as part of OUTober 2017 – Celebrating Diversity Coming Out Month. (Image courtesy New Mexico State University LGBT+ Programs)
Spacee Kadett from Los Angeles will host the OUTober Drag Show at New Mexico State University Oct. 30 as part of OUTober 2017 – Celebrating Diversity Coming Out Month. (Image courtesy New Mexico State University LGBT+ Programs)

Transgender YouTube personality Ty Turner will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Corbett Center Student Union Ballroom West. This presentation is made possible with support from the Aggie Health and Wellness Center.

Zooey Sophia Pook, diversity officer for LGBT+ Programs at NMSU, said it’s important for the NMSU student body to hear the perspectives of both transgender women and transgender men.

“Ty Turner is an acclaimed voice in the transgender community and celebrates much success on YouTube and other platforms,” Pook said. “We have highlighted the voices of important women in the trans community, such as MSNBC’s Janet Mock, and it was important for us to feature the voice of trans men who have been so important in our student body.”

Gayle Salamon, an associate professor of English and gender and sexuality studies at Princeton University, will discuss her latest work on LGBT+ identity at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, in the CCSU Auditorium. She received the 2011 Lambda Literary Award in LGBT studies for her book, “Assuming a Body: Transgender and Rhetorics of Materiality.” Salamon’s discussion is sponsored by NMSU Gender & Sexuality Studies in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department, as well as the Department of English.

“Bringing Dr. Gayle Salamon to campus represents our commitment to making LGBT+ identity a part of the NMSU curriculum,” Pook said. “It also represents our important campus relationships with disciplines like English and Gender & Sexuality Studies, who are doing critical, cultural work.”

The celebration concludes with the OUTober Drag Show at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, in the CCSU Auditorium. Spacee Kadett from Los Angeles will host the drag show, which will also feature local performers.

All events are free. For more information, call LGBT+ Programs at 575-646-7031 or email lgbt@nmsu.edu.